UN LIBERIA ANNUAL RESULTS REPORT 2023
The year 2023 was a very eventful year marked by commendable milestones including the recent Presidential elections.
I would like to congratulate the people of Liberia and join the world to celebrate the deepening democracy in Liberia through the peaceful conduct of the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections.
The next phase of Liberia’s democratic journey is crucial for nation-building, cohesion, and sustainable development. The United Nations in Liberia looks forward to this next phase, particularly the new national development plan, which would serve as a guide for our new United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. The peaceful elections paved way for a seamless transition of power with the UN supporting this process in collaboration with our partners. This was accomplished through peacebuilding initiatives, technical and strategic policy advice to the National Elections Commission and political stakeholders to strengthen institutional capacity; support the inclusion of women, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups, and promote peaceful, credible, inclusive, and transparent elections.
Additionally, the program reached 128,598 youths (males - 37905, females - 90,693) in school settings in ten counties, equipping them with sexuality education, including family planning. At the same time, 150 at-risk adolescents (35 boys, and 115 girls) were enrolled in technical and vocational skills training programs to acquire employment skills and empowerment. Furthermore, the program built the capacity of 100 Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) teachers and administrators’ knowledge, equiping them on gender-sensitive and inclusive education. The School Feeding Programme implemented by World Food Programme and partners has significantly improved educational outcomes for school-going children and enhanced nutritional intakes for poor households that benefited over 70,260 public primary school children in 289 schools in four counties (Bong, Maryland, Montserrado, and Nimba).
To enhance community access to markets and other basic social services, about 47.996 kilometres of farm-to-market roads were rehabilitated in Nimba (14.656 km) and Lofa (33.34 km) in 2023 with support from International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Over 24,853 individuals living with HIV received sustained access to treatment, and support services highlighting the tangible impact of sustained care and support services for the well-being of affected populations. In addition, 1,200 female farmers in Lofa, Bong, and Nimba Counties have been transformed through smart and climate-resilient agricultural interventions. Moreover, 17,556 assorted essential farming tools were distributed to over 2,450 individual farmers, including women, youths, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to support their farming efforts within the selected communities.
In the spirit of Sustainable Development Goals specifically no. 17, we embrace the principle of partnerships in our work. I extend my warmest appreciation to the Government and people of Liberia for our very strong collaboration in working towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. Profound gratitude also goes to all our partners, including the development partners, multilateral development actors, regional cooperation bodies, international financial institutions, the private sector, civil society organizations, academia, and others. Going forward, we will continue to work towards developing and implementing a UNSDCF anchored on the National Development Agenda and aligned to the six transition or entry points of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Subsequently, our efforts on collective partnerships and resource mobilization will be reinvigorated. I have no doubt that by continuing to engage in results-driven coordination, we shall make the transformative changes needed to accelerate the achievements of the Sustainable Development Goals.
-Christine N. Umutoni
Resident Coordinator